Back from the Big Easy....

We are back from our trip to New Orleans and the quilt show in Slidel. It was so much fun and so relaxing. I will post pictures soon!!

But in the meantime here is a very talented man we had the pleasure to see!

Oasis Zest Dress Copy Pt 1

I found a large floral jersey at JoAnn's, it's not what I wanted as in a border print in woven but it is pretty and will  look just lovely.

Also because it's a knit I can stick with the size 16 and not worry so much about excess fabric. I do however still need to measure the pattern in the hip area to make sure I have the correct amount of ease for a knit. When I made the first dress I had to pinch a wedge from the front yoke just a tad to fit which made it a bit more curvy than it was.

The drawing is in a pink color but I will make the yoke in black to draw the eye up because in this dress I am not going to add a draw string like in my first N6778. The Oasis dress has a deeper neckline and short hem line. I am not to crazy about both together, you know it's always good to show off one or the other but if you show off to much leg and cleavage - well lets just say it's not my style! I am going to sew up the shorter hem line and keep the neckline up a little.

I am going back to the sewing room and get started drafting today. I'll post more as I go.

toodles lovelies!!

An Oasis of Inspiration

I found a new web shop for some dress ideas at Oasis, new to me but prolly not so new to you - hey I am slow ya know ;0)   Oasis is a UK based company that offers a feminine fashionable fun line of clothing. Some of the items remind me a little of Anthropologie, and we just love the vintage vibe there right!?! Well I do!!!

All three of these dresses remind me of....

Favorite Things Praire Girl dress pattern.

Little changes here and there, some lace, eyelet and a pin tuck or two. It is amazing how looking at ready to wear for insiration and paying close attention to the design lines can translate into a pattern you might already have or never would have thought about sewing for yourself. And if your lucky enough maybe a few $$ less than the RTW price.

Now all those dresses are ones that I love the look of and would wear. I have this pattern in my stash and would like to make a few in different styles and colors, but this has to go on the design board for now as I have so much waiting to be cut and sewn already.

Something else to drool over...

Oasis Zest Border dress!!

This dress just screams 'sexy on a hot steamy summer evening sipping cosmos by the pool' and not to mention comfortable!! Also this dress would be great for my up coming trip to New Orleans, don't you agree?

I am obsessed! Yep, obsessed with this dress!! I am thinking that if I take New Look 6778 which I have already made here. Using a solid color for the yoke and a border print for the body of the dress. The inspiration dress is a halter dress and New Look is not, but I think the curved yoke that N6778 has will have a similar look and feel to the original's U-shaped neckline and with straps I don't have to worry about bra peek-a-boo. Now my only real problem is that my trip is a week from today, and ordering fabric might be risky so on my way home tonight I will stop by JoAnn's and see if I can find some fabric. Otherwise I will order and cross my fingers it gets here fast!

Gotta Be....

New Look 6778

Pattern Description: Easy *2 Hour A-line sundress, view A and B have front yoke and gathers, view C and D have a gathered front and optional accents. Two lengths with side ties and 4 strap options

Pattern Sizing: 6 thru 16. I cut view A in size 16 and added to the waist and hips, as this pattern does not come in a plus size.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Somewhat, I added a drawstring to keep it from looking like 'what you got hiding under there?'

Were the instructions easy to follow? Well, I didn't read them. Sorry but it is a pretty basic pattern, other than the gathers in the front.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

 Nothing to dislike. What I like is it was fast and easy. I cut it out on Thursday and sewed it up after work on a Friday to wear to a Luau party on Saturday. The drawstring added more time to my sewing than the envelope stated but in the end the results were worth the extra effort.

Fabric Used: I really wanted a festive and colorful fabric but this being a last minute project I did not have the time to order fabric. A woven rayon faux batik in browns from the local JoAnn's, it's not the festive and colorful fabric I wanted to use but I am sure will get lots of wear out of. It has nice drape and is very cool for hot summers.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I omitted the side ties. When cutting out the pattern I cut a size 16 for the front yoke and yoke facing. For the front I added a one inch to the center front at the fold (this added more gathers to the center front so I would not need a FBA) and graded out one inch on the sides starting just under the bust to the waist and hips. For the center back I cut on the fold instead of having a center seam, I also added 1 to the back sides starting just under the bust out to the waist and hips. I gathered and stitched the front to the front yoke then sewed the sides together. Found out where the straps should be and basted them in place. Then sewed the facing of self fabric to the front yoke right sides together. I made a back facing in self fabric and stitched that right sides together. (both facings are finished on the bottom edge with my serger before sewing to the dress) I did not turn the facings right side out yet, I made bias tape from self fabric and stitched this starting ontop of the front facing and under the arm until I reached the back facing, then did the same to the other underarm - this way when the facing is turned right sideout is will hide the beginning of the bias that is finishing off the under arm ~ is that clear as mud??

Maybe a picture would help:

Turned it right sideout and pressed, top stitched the facings down about 1/4 inch from edge starting at the right underarm and continuing all the way around and back to the starting point. Hand stitched the bottom of the front facing. I added a casing for the drawstring on the inside of the dress and used button holes for the draw string.

 

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I will be sewing this again. I have a trip to New Orleans coming up and would like to make another one to take with me.

Conclusion: Cute easy dress, but might look a bit like tent without the drawsting. Quick easy and cool for the hot Florida summers. With a summer cardigan it will fit right into my office attire.

I am my own worst critic!!! My husband snapped photos as we were heading out the door to the luau. Out of 10 photos this is the only one I would post due to the unlady like faces and robot like poses.